faulkner



(2.1. FAULKNER.

- GRAPPLE.

APPLlcArmN FILED APR.26.1919,

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

2 `SHEETS-SWEET 2.

S31/Wenko@ @l M ufff/iff V@litem u@ CHARLES J. FAULKNER, OEBALL GROUND, GEORGIA.

GBAPPLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten ang. a, raie.

Application led April 26,1919. Serial No. 292,813.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES J. FAULK- Nan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ball Ground, in the county of Cherokee and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is .a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rThis invention relates to certain improvements in grapp'lesi, and it is an object of the invention. to provide a'inovel and improved device of this gene-ral chigracter which is particularly designed and adapted for use for the recovery of articles in submergence as ,in a well or the like.

lt is also an obj ect of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a head havingpiv otally engaged therewith a plurality of inwardly directed hook or grappling members which assume a depending` or working position by gravity and wherein said hook grappling members are provided with means whereby the same are caused to assume' a raised position when the device is trarelin'g downwardly through the water.

,An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character wherein certain of the piv otally supported members are caused to move 'inwardly to assure a more eifective grip upon the load when the device is being raised or elevated.l

The invention consists in the details of construction and inthe combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im-l proved grapple whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

ln order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyin`f ,1f drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a View in side elevation of a grapple constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-I tional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figi?, is a transverse sectional View taken through the device as illustrated in Fig. 1.

-nected with its lug l through long in plan, but l ldo not wish to be under-` stood as limiting myself to this particular coiriiguration. Extending outwardly from the side and end members of the head or frame H are'the lugs 1 with which are pivotally orV hingedly connected the Shanks 2 of the hook or grappling members M.

Each of the lugs 1 is provi( ed with a shank 3 extending through a side or end member of the head or frame H and thread ed upon said shank 3 is a holding or clamp- I ingnut 4 which engages the inner face of said side or end member. The lug i is of a diameter greater than the diameter' of its shank 3 so that the inner end portion of the lug affords' a shoulder or abutment 5 which contacts with the outer face of the side or end member of the head or frame H so that the clamping action of the nut i is materi ally facilitated;

Each of the lugs l has its outer end portion bifurcated with the kerf 6 vertically disposed when the lug 1 is in proper connection with the head or frame 8, andthe base avof the kerf 6 is disposed on a predetermined downward and outward incline for' coaction with the straight edge l? of the plv oted end portion of the coactinp; shank 2.

AThe stra-ight edge is positioned so that when said edge l) comes into contact with. the inclined base (L of the kerf G, the upward swinging movement of the shank 2 is limited. This limiting of the upward move- (ment of the shank 2 is of particula,L advantage as said shank is prevented from passing upwardly and beyond the vertical center which would otherwise materially affeet the successful operation of my improved device.

As is. clearly illustrated in the acco1npanying drawings, the pivoted end portion of each of the Shanks 2- e'xtends within the korf G of a lug 1 and said shank is the medium of the like. lt is cf a removable cotter 7 or have each of the particular advantage to shanks 2 detachably engaged with the head or frame H so that the same can be readily replaced as the occasions of practice may necessitate.

rlhe outer or working end portion of each of the shanks 2 is provided with an inwardly directed straight prong 8 of desired length and which prong is adapted to suitably enga. e the article to be lifted.

lach of the Shanks 2 at a point inwardly of the prong 8 but in close proximity thereto is offset outwardly, as at 9, said offset portion 9l being directed on a downward and outward incline. Secured to said offset or inclined portion 9 is an end portion of a substantially flat wing or plate 10, the flat faces of the wing being substantially at right angles to the path of travel of the shank Q. The lower end ortion of the plate 10 terminates outwardly of the shank 2 and below the offset or inclined portion 9 so that when the device is lowered through. the water, the resistance oifered by said wing or plate 10 will cause the shank 2 to swing upwardly. However, when the downward movement of the device is limited, the shank 2 will substantially instantaneously drop, whereby the prong 8 thereof will properly engage the article to be recovered.

lt is not essential that each of the Shanks 2 be provided with a substantially straight prong as the prong or engaging member may be of any desired configuration as will best meet the requirements of use. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the engaging member Sa constitutes an upwardly facing hook and which form is especially adapted for use when the area of operation is limited and the straight prongs cannot properly engage the article desired to be withdrawn.

its herein embodied, a central shank 2 at. opposite sides of the head H is provided with an upwardly-disposed and inwardly directed extension 11. Engaged with thefree extremities of the extensions 11 are the elongatf` members 12 preferably iexible which are. also suitably secured to -the `coupling ring 14. carried by a lifting cable 15 or the like. The lifting cable 1 5 is of any desired length and may be operated in any manner preferred and it will be obvious that when pull is imposed upon the cable 15 to lift the grapple and its load, the extensions 11 will cause the coacting Shanks 10 to swing inwardly whereby a more effective engagement with tl1c..load is assured.

i'hen it is referred to cause all of the sha 2 at a. side of the head H to move in- Wardly under the influence of the pull imposed upon the cable 15, l employ the elongated rigid member or bar i6 detachably engaged through the instrumentality of the yokes 1? with said Shanks 2 and as is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Suitably engaged with thc corner portionsl of the head H are the upwardly converging elongated members or heads 1S secured :it their upper extremities to the annular nicmber or ring 19. The cable 15 is disposed through the annular member or ring 1!) and interposed between said ring 19 and an abutment or stop Q0 secured to the cable 15 inwardly of the annular member or ring 15) is an expansible member 21. The member 2l, as herein disclosed, comprises a coil spring encircling the cable 15 and through the medium of the member 15, the members or rods 18 operate to carry or support part of thc load so that excessive strain will not be imposed upon the shanks 2 provided with the extensions 11.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a grapple constructed in accordance with my. invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hercinafter claimed.

l claim:

1. A grapple of the class described comprising a head, article engaging members pivotally secured to said head, and wings carried by said members, each of said wings having flat faces substantially at right angles to the path of travel. of the coacting article engaging member.

A grapple of the class described comprising a head, article engaging members pivotally secured to said head, and wings carried by said members adjacent the working ends thereof, each of said wings having flat faces substantially at right angles to the path of travel of the eoacting article engaging member.

3. A device of the class described comprising a head, elongated shanks pivotally engaged with said head and provided with inwardly directed work engaging portions, a part of each of the shanks adjacent its outer end being outwardly offset, and a wing secured to said offset portion.

4. A device of the class described com- .prising a head, elongated shanks pivotally engaged with said head and provided with inwardly directed work engaging portions, a part of each of the shanks adjacent its outer end being outwardly offset. and a wing secured to said offset portion, said wing extending outwardly of said offset portion.

5. A grapple of the class described com- Lemmi,

prieing a head; article engaging members pivotally secured to said head, mens for member 'is loosely directed, eonneetios be tween. seid test named member end thehead,

:in abutment carried by the lifting member inwardyof the member throu h which seid le lifting meinberis directed, en an expaiifisibie inueiiiberinterposedbetiveen said abutment and the member through which the lifting member is directed.

In testimony `whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

l CHARLES J. FAULKNER.

Witnesses:

W. E. LAWSON, Roemer A. BOSWELL 

